Pilates Class

[Kathleen H]

I attended my first Pilates class tonight at the fitness center where I work. It was great!! There were about 12 attendees, the lights were low, the instructor was well qualified and friendly, the moves were challenging yet not impossible.

We warmed up with a few yoga moves and then moved into the Pilates. The class was an hour and it zoomed by. I own a Pilates dvd that I have followed in the past so I was somewhat familiar with the moves. The other fitness center location has a "cycling studio" that I am going to check out later this week, but I like the idea of another avenue opening up.

Favorite positions/moves: downward looking dog for the warmup. The hundred during the class session.

Groovy to the max!!

[Moonsavvy]

That sounds fun, I've been attending a few trainings on pilates and I've really enjoyed it as well. My obliques were talking to me the next day too!

[like2bike]

Way to go KAT! You've inspired me to put this on my list too! I'm so long to know that you enjoyed it! Good for you girl!

[SpinningInPrescott]

Congrats on taking the Pilates plunge!

I've been doing Pilates 2x/week for the last five years and credit it with no back pain for the last 5 years (why I really started) and in addition:

1. Awesome flexibility

2. Increased upper body strength (we do a lot of pushups and planks in our class)

3. Strong abs (ok, not a 6 pack, cause I drank 2 of them, but there's 4 pack, ok?)

4. Race ready base...I've found that I can train MUCH less that I used to and get better results...for example, I trained only 136 miles for last year's Whiskey Row marathon compared to 220 and 186 miles the two previous years and my time was very similar (I just try to beat 4hr, and usually do within 10 mins or so).

5. Stronger cyclist...with ab strength and increased flexibilty and overall better fitness level, I'm able to perform very well on the bike...certainly better that before Pilates

Also nice about Pilates is that you are always working on form and flexibilty and always striving for more. It's hard to "perfect."

Highly recommended!

:) PS

[like2bike]

Patrick thanks for the run down on all of the benefits you've reaped. That's stupendous! I'm definitely going to head down that path and join you, KAT and Moon in your pilates journeys!

[fitfan]

I gotta tell ya! I LOVE Pilates. I started about 5 years ago and it really helped tone me up. But the best thing it did was help my back. I had a car accident a few years ago and had back pain for a week, I was living on Motrin and a heated pad on my back. Nothing helped. I went to the doctor and she told me it was spasms and to take it easy with exercise, when I asked her about Pilates, her whole face lit up and she said oh yeah continue Pilates it's great. So, the next day I went to my Pilates class and after class I felt better than I had previously. My back pain was completely gone and never came back! It was amazing! So I continue to take Pilates and teach it as well. It Rocks!!!!!

[Moonsavvy]

Yes physical therapist's and doctors are actually recommending pilates to their patients. It makes sense because Joseph was not into the excercise gimmicks that we see today.

(not that I mind the gimmicks) ;)